Lesson title: finding missing numbers

Find what’s in the box?

\(3 + \square = 8\)

Answer:

\(3 + \square = 8\)

\(\square = 5\)

Can you do it without guessing?

\(6 + \square = 13\)

\(\square + 4 = 11\)

\(9 + \square = 15\)

Subtraction

\(15 - \square = 8\)

\(\square = 7\)

Can you find a way to do it without guessing?

Complete the following

\(20 - \square = 12\)

\(\square - 6 = 9\)

\(17 - \square = 5\)

Times tables

\(4 \times \square = 20\)

\(\square = 5\)

\(3 \times \square = 15\)

\(\square \times 6 = 24\)

\(7 \times \square = 28\)

Division

\(\square \div 3 = 6\)

\(\square = 18\)

\(24 \div \square = 6\)

\(\square \div 4 = 7\)

\(35 \div \square = 5\)

Same problem, different symbol

\(3 \times \square = 15\)

\(3 \times x = 15\)

The letter \(x\) is called a pronumeral

Pronumerals

Letters that stand for numbers:

\(x\), \(y\), \(a\), \(b\), \(c\)

Now with letters

  1. \(x + 8 = 17\)

  2. \(6 \times y = 30\)

  1. \(25 - a = 11\)

  2. \(b \div 5 = 4\)

Check your work

If \(6 \times y = 30\) and \(y = 5\)

Check: \(6 \times 5 = 30\)

Exit task

On scrap paper, write your name and solve:

\(x + 7 = 15\)

You can do algebra!

  • Started with \(\square\)
  • Now using letters like \(x\), \(y\), \(a\)
  • Same skill: finding unknowns